What’s Happening in Cherokee County

by Staff reports

The Cherokeean Herald welcomes announcements for publication in our weekly edition. Please submit calendar information by noon Friday for publication in the following Wednesday’s edition of our paper. Send information to news@thecherokeean.com.

THROUGH NOV. 8

Rusk Lions Club will host a drawing for a Mossberg 88 shotgun and a Ruger LCP 380, with tickets on sale through Nov. 8, the day of the drawing. Tickets are $5 each or five for $20, must be 21 or older to purchase. Tickets also are available from any Lions Club member.

OCT. 14

The Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce will host Coffee with a Cop, from 8-9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 14, at 1714 E. Rusk St.

The Major Thaddeus Beall Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, will meet at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 14, at First United Methodist Church, 1031 SE Loop 456 in Jacksonville. NSDAR Registrar Eunice Jackson will discuss “The Trail of Tears.”

OCT. 16

The Butterfly Barn, located at 664 N. Bolton in Jacksonville, will host a benefit fundraiser for County Roads Rescue, with a portion of the day's sales dedicated to the rescue. A drawing also will be held for a $50 gift card.

Texas State Railroad will offer the Pumpkin Patch Express Oct. 16, in Rusk. The event includes a 40-minute round trip train ride, along with a pumpkin patch, games, hay rides, prizes and other activities. Reservations can be made at TexasStateRailroad.net or call 855-632-7729 to learn more.

A Pumpkin Spice Fun Run, presented by For the Love of Nutrition, begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, at 125 E. 6th St. in Rusk. While there is no entry fee, donations will be taken for the Ronald McDonald House in Dallas. To learn more, call 903-245-9877.

Mission Tejas State Park will host "Height Hike – Tallest in Texas," from 12:30-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16. Test your eye for timber and learn how foresters measured height! This moderate one-mile guided hike has some inclines. The park is located on Texas Highway 21 outside Grapeland. While the program is free, park admission is $3 for visitors ages 13 and older.

Lake Striker Resort will host an axe throwing event, Saturday, Oct. 16, at 18560 CR 4256 South in Reklaw. Gates open at 3 p.m., with a $5 admission per person. An outdoor stage features entertainment by Kim Scott, Shawn Clapton and The Gems Dance company. Vendors will be on hand. Coolers wel-come.

Relay for Life of Cherokee County planning committee will meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 18, at the Cherokee County Annex meeting room. The next meeting is slated for January 2022.

OCT. 17

Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1515 S. Loop 256 in Palestine, will celebrate the 21st Sunday of Pentecost Oct. 17, with 9 a.m. Sunday School followed by Divine Service of Holy Communion at 10:15 a.m.

OCT. 18

Book Lover’s Unite Book Club will meet at noon, Monday, Oct. 18 at the Jacksonville Public Library, 526 E. Erwin St.

OCT. 19

Alto Food Pantry will host its 3rd Tuesday monthly food distribution, 2-5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, at 176 W. San Antonio St. in Alto.

OCT. 21

Area veterans are invited to a free lunch at the Palestine VVA/DAV Hall, at noon Thursday, Oct. 21. The Hall is located at 927 Gardner Dr. in Palestine. A program on Fall Prevention will be presented by Amy Henderson, an LVN with Encompass Home Health. Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) and Disabled American Veterans (DAV) host these events in conjunction with area health care organizations, and the event is open to all.

Book Lover’s Unite Book Club will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 21 at the Jacksonville Public Li-brary, 526 E. Erwin St.

OCT. 22

Atoy Baptist Church will hold a Fall Festival with food, fun and fellowship, beginning at 6 p.m

OCT. 23

The Cherokee County Master Gardeners host its annual Fall Plant Sale on Saturday, Oct. 23, at Ruth Nichols Arboretum in Jacksonville; the event will coincide with the groups Scarecrow Trail, which is slated Oct. 23-30.

Texas State Railroad will offer the Pumpkin Patch Express Oct. 23 in Rusk. The event includes a 40-minute round trip train ride, along with a pumpkin patch, games, hay rides, prizes and other activities. Reservations can be made at TexasStateRailroad.net or call 855-632-7729 to learn more.

Corner Lot Drive-in will host a fall festival, Saturday, Oct. 23, at 1030 CR 2120 in Rusk. The event fea-tures food, games/prizes and a costume contest.

OCT. 23-30

The Cherokee County Master Gardeners will host their annual Scarecrow Trail, Oct. 23-30, at Ruth Nichols Arboretum, 1015 SE Loop 456 in Jacksonville. The opening day of the event also features the Master Gardeners’ Fall Plant Sale. The trail is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Admission is $1 or one canned good per person, in support of HOPE – Jacksonville.

Mission Tejas will host an Edible and Medicinal Plant Hike, Saturday, Oct. 23, from 9:30-11 a.m. Trek an easy mile on this introduction to edible and medicinal plants hiding in the Pineywoods. Later in the day, participated in Archery 101, held from 2:30–3:45 p.m. NASP style archery intro and shootout, all skill levels welcome, for ages 7 and older; equipment provided, The park is located on Texas Highway 21 outside Grapeland. While the program is free, park admission is $3 for visitors ages 13 and older.

OCT. 24

"A Walk through History" – Remembering those buried at Cedar Hill, will be presented from 2-5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, at the cemetery in Rusk. Program participants will be in period dress, offering stories of those buried at Cedar Hill. Author Deborah Burkett will share research done for her latest book, "Re-membering Those Buried beneath the Cedars." Afterward, refreshments will be served at the Heritage Center of Cherokee County Museum in downtown Rusk.

OCT. 25

Trunk or Treat, held at Commerce and Main Streets in downtown Jacksonville, kicks off at 5 p.m. Mon-day, Oct. 25.

OCT. 26

"County Business at Lunch" will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26, at Postmasters Coffee Co., 402 Rusk St. in Jacksonville. Several county officials will be guest speakers at the event. Advanced registration, with limited seating. Tickets are $20 Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce mem-bers, $25 prospective members. Contact the Jacksonville Chamber for more information.

The annual Hay Show & Sale will be held Tuesday, Oct. 26, at the Cherokee County Exposition Center in Jacksonville. A 6 p.m. catered dinner is followed immediately by a hay auction, with Grand Champion, Reserve Champion and Blue Ribbon hay auctioned during the event. Proceeds benefit the youth of Cher-okee County via a scholarship program

OCT. 27

The Greater Rusk Area Garden Club will meet at the Rusk library at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 27. Anyone interested in gardening and nature is welcome to attend.

OCT. 29

Rusk will host its annual Scare on the Square, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29, on the courthouse square downtown. Businesses there – and throughout the city – will be passing out candy, including All Aboard Nutrition (from 3-5 p.m. at 595 N. Main), while the local library will have Halloween shows in the meeting room.

OCT. 30

Primitive Fire ― History in Action will be held from 10:30-11:45 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 30 at Mission Tejas State Park. The park is located on Texas Highway 21 outside Grapeland. While the program is free, park admission is $3 for visitors ages 13 and older.

The City of Reklaw will host its second annual Trunk or Treat event, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, at 140 W. Main St. (intersection of U.S. Highway 84 and Texas 204).

Texas State Railroad will offer the Pumpkin Patch Express Oct. 30, in Rusk. The event includes a 40-minute round trip train ride, along with a pumpkin patch, games, hay rides, prizes and other activities. Reservations can be made at TexasStateRailroad.net or call 855-632-7729 to learn more.

NOV. 1

Bluebonnet 4-H Club will host a Nov. 1 queen’s contest drawing for custom processing for white tail deer from Dyess processing. Tickets are $4 or 5 for $20. To learn more, contact Amanda Hobson, 214-592-6801.

NOV. 6

The community of Earle’s Chapel will host its first Founder's Day festival, Saturday, Nov. 6. The festival will feature barbecue, a barrel train, carnival games, a petting zoo and an appearance by the Earle's Chapel VFD fire truck.

A 5K event/10 ruck march benefitting the Military Veteran Peer Network and VFW Post 8924 will be held Saturday, Nov. 6, in Palestine. Hosted by the Palestine Chamber of Commerce, where events initiate, the run begins at 7:30 a.m., while the ruck march starts at 7 a.m. Vendor booths will be on site at the VFW hall. Registration fees are $30 virtual and early bird (before Oct. 9); $35 regular registration, $40 day of event. To register, please contact the Palestine Chamber of Commerce at 903-729-6066 or email info@palestinechamber.com

This year’s Coats for Kids distribution will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6, at The Clothes Closet and More, 314 S. Main St. in Jacksonville. The ministry is accepting new and gently used coats, with an expressed request for children’s sizes. They may be dropped off during regular business hours, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday at the Main Street site.

Texas Arbor Day and sha-ho tree planting will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6, at Caddo Mounds State Historic Site outside Alto.

NOV. 8

Lone Star Legal aid will offer legal services to seniors ages 60 and over, from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 8, at Rusk Public Library. An attorney and paralegal will be on site to answer questions. To set up an appointment, call 800-354-1889, ext. 1574, or show up at the library.

NOV. 11

A Veterans Day celebration is planned from noon-2 p.m. at 1051 N. Houston St. in Bullard. For more information, contact Kandy Flores, 903-590-6134.

NOV. 13

The Cherokee Craft & Trade Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 13, at 707 College Ave. in Jacksonville.

The Jacksonville Garden club will celebrate local veterans with a 1:30 p.m. ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 13, at the Patriotic Pathway Memorial at Buchner Park. Names will be listed of bricks purchased and in-stalled along the park’s sidewalk. All are welcome.

Holidaze 2021 fashion show & auction, benefiting the Good Samaritan Food Pantry of Rusk, will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, at the Rusk Civic Center, 555 Euclid St.

Nov. 15

Harvest of Hope Bingo, which benefits Relay for Life of Cherokee County’s efforts in battling cancer, will be held Monday, Nov. 15, at Singletary Memorial Library in Rusk. The event includes 10 games, dauber and snacks. Limited tickets are available, at $20 each, free admission for registered cancer survi-vors.

NOV. 27

Jacksonville FFA will host a shootout jackpot, Saturday, Nov. 27, at the Tommy McDaniel Rusk County Youth Expo, at 3303 FM 13 in Henderson. The event is a 2-ring show open to entries of steers, heifers, swine, goats and lamb, with a fee of $60 per entry that covers both rings. To learn more, call 713-252-4657 or visit the Jacksonville FFA Jackpot Shows page.

DEC. 2

The Jacksonville Christmas parade begins at 6 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 2.

DEC. 5

Come decorate cookies with Mrs. Claus and Santa’s Elves, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5, at Lake Striker Resort, 18560 CR 1256 in Reklaw. Registration begins Nov. 1 for the free event, call 281-703-3739 or 903-854-2404. Open to children ages 3 and older; the event is free, but attendees are asked to donate a new, unwrapped toy for the annual Toys for Tots campaign. Santa also will be in attendance, so bring your camera for photos!

DEC. 6

Lone Star Legal aid will offer legal services to seniors ages 60 and over, from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 6, at Rusk Public Library. An attorney and paralegal will be on site to answer questions. To set up an appointment, call 800-354-1889, ext. 1574, or show up at the library.

DEC. 11

The Cherokee Craft & Trade Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 11, at 707 College Ave. in Jacksonville.